Aruban Prime Minister In Defeat Still Does not Understand Freedom of the Press (Oduber loses to Diario)

Aruban PM Nelson Oduber loses his court case against Diario for “insultation and slurring on his integrity”.  I know that there is a joke and at least the reference of an oxymoron within that statement.  Aruban PM Oduber, you can thank your lucky stars you do not hold a political position in the US with the thin skinned reaction you have to how the media criticizes and scrutinizes you and your party. New-flash … in a democracy the Press is not supposed to agree with a political party and carry its water, that would be called propaganda. The Press is supposed to act as a watch-guard for the people.

(Click on pic to enlarge)

Oduber’s reaction is that he will not appeal.  “I have lost enough time in this case already.  It has become clear to me that everybody can publish anything they want about the government, and not be prosecuted.  We have actually been outlawed.”

Are you joking? At this point after PM Oduber made this comment, Oduber began to sing, “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina”.  Oduber, your drama is astounding. You are a politician, people will always disagree with your position and question it. That is what is supposed to occur in a DEMOCRACY.

Amigoe, June 29, 2007: Oduber looses case against Diario  

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Cruise Ship Passengers Declining in Aruba and the Caribbean … Are Reported Tourism Numbers Accurate?

Some tourism numbers were reported in Aruba indicating a treading water trend in the hotel occupancy rate; however, cruise ship passengers were down significantly. The decline of cruise ships in the Caribbean is a trend that is occurring creating a Cruise ship Blues for many in the Caribbean. However, one wonders when a country is so dependent on one industry like tourism, are the numbers reported accurately?

Available data show that the average occupancy rate of hotels for April 2007 edged up by 0.7 percentage point to 81.8 percent, after falling slightly by 0.5 percentage point to 82.0 percent for March 2007. The Aruba Tourism Authority has not yet published the data on tourist arrivals and nights spent on the island for March and April 2007.

Since February 2007, the number of cruise passengers has been declining. This number fell again in April and May 2007 by, respectively, 17.3 percent and 25.8 percent, in spite of a 3.4 percent rise in ship calls in April 2007 and a notable 75 percent hike in May 2007. A major factor for this development was the cancellation as of January 2007 of the weekly visits of the Carnival Cruise Lines to Aruba. (Central Bank Aruba)

Of course that is if we are to believe that Aruban officials are actually reporting the actual numbers and not using creating accounting. It is hard to believe from actual pictures of few tourist on the beach, people’s accounts who have visited Aruba and common sense crunching of numbers that what is being presented is 100% accurate. We posed the question to Jossy Mansur of Diario, what is tourism really like on Aruba? Its hard to believe that it is close to pre-Natalee missing numbers as we have seen then decline in large numbers since and only increase in some months by small amounts. Does Aruba really provide accurate numbers when reporting?

Tourism hasn’t fared well lately. The hotels are operating with a below normal occupancy for this time of year (we are in the off-season now). The figures published by the government are not reliable. They tend to present favorable numbers that will make them look good, but that do not reflect the reality of the industry. Numerous factors, including the Holloway case, have contributed to the noticeable drop in tourism. Lack of an integral plan, lack of funds, lack of an effective and all-encompassing publicity campaign in the traditional markets, renewed competition from some of the other more aggressive and well-funded islands in the Caribbean, are some of the contributing factors. (Jossy Mansur)

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Lorenzo van Rijn Arrested on Drug Charges in Aruba … Hmm … Ya Don’t Say

Lorenzo Arrested … YES, THAT SAME INFAMOUS LORENZO

Lorenzo van Gijn no ta un desconoci di polis. Den e bishitanan cu e Team Bijzondere Projecten a haci na diferente lugar, su cas no tabata un excepcion.

(Yes, the last name is Rijn, misspelled in article)

(Diario-Aruba)

After all this time, the infamous house where so many parties and drugs were had is finally raided. It makes one wonder why now? Its not like authorities most likely knew what went on here. Seems like the walls are closing in on so many things that the ALE let slide.

Lorenzo’s house – Located at 172 Saveneta, Aruba

We also know from the Kalpoe law suit vs. Dr. Phil that Lorenzo was witness and gave a statement to police at least once. Wonder why they would have wanted to talk to Lorenzo? Maybe Joran Van der Sloot was there that night? The police may want to do some DNA testing in this home.

The question remains, why would investigators want to talk to Lorenzo as it pertains to the Natalee Holloway case. What is the connection? It can’t just be about the selling of drugs and parties … there would have to be a greater connection.

Check out more at Scared Monkeys.net … rumors, pics, and more.

UPDATE: Remember this comment from a poster from Aruba in June 2005 regarding Natalee being held?

(Hat Tip: Nice find Klaas)

Van der Sloot Residence Search in Pictures, Part 3

More pictures of the search that took place at the Van der Sloot residence. So why again was this not allowed to take place in June 2005?

And now for some of Paul Van der Sloot who does not look happy.

(Pictures courtesy of Aruba Diaro)

• Part 1
• Part 2

Van der Sloot Residence Search in Pictures, Part 2

(Pictures courtesy of Diario)